Costochondritis

Introduction to costal cartilage Costal cartilage inflammation refers to chronic non-specific inflammation that occurs in the costal cartilage, also known as non-suppurative costal cartilage. The cause of costal cartilage hyperplasia is unknown. It is generally thought to be related to strain or trauma. In people carrying heavy objects, sharply twisting or chest compression, etc., causing acute damage to thoracic rib joint cartilage, or viral infection caused by chronic strain or cold. Etc., leading to edema of the cartilage of the thoracic rib joint surface, thickening of the aseptic inflammatory response and onset. basic knowledge The proportion of illness: 0.001% Susceptible people: no special people Mode of infection: non-infectious Complications: bone cancer

Cause of costal cartilage

The cause of the disease (10%):

It has been reported to be associated with tuberculosis, systemic malnutrition, acute bacterial upper respiratory tract infection, rheumatoid arthritis, thoracolumbar joint dislocation, chest impact injury, severe cough and other injuries. This disease often occurs at the turn of winter and spring and the season of autumn and winter, and is obviously related to the invasion of wind, cold and dampness.

Endocrine abnormalities (20%):

Immunity or endocrine abnormalities cause rib cartilage dystrophy. Chinese medicine believes that costal cartilage inflammation pain and chest flank, upper arm is qi stagnation, local uplift, tenderness is obvious, pain points are fixed and blood stasis. Qi stagnation and blood stasis, wind and heat invade the meridians, toxic heat and blazing, qi and blood can not pass, nowhere is pain.

Virus infection (30%):

Many cases have reported a history of viral upper respiratory infection before illness.

Costal cartilage prevention

1. Open the window frequently to keep the indoor air fresh, and participate in sports activities to enhance your resistance. Avoid colds when the weather turns cold.

2, usually pay attention to keep warm, to prevent cold. Do not undress immediately when your body is sweating to protect yourself from the wind.

3, the clothes should be soft, dry and avoid moisture.

4, pay attention to work and rest, do not be too tired.

5, when working, pay attention to improve the awareness of protection, move the heavy object posture to be correct, do not use too much force, beware of damage to the thoracic cartilage, ligament

Costal cartilage complications Complications

Pulmonary complications are common complications after surgery, especially in patients with general anesthesia. After the patient wakes up, the cough reflex has not fully recovered, and he can not effectively exclude respiratory secretions, which can lead to pulmonary complications such as aspiration pneumonia. . Therefore, for those who have more phlegm and cough, the sterile suction tube should be used in time to remove the secretions in the oral cavity and airway to prevent the occurrence of pulmonary complications.

Symptomal cartilage symptoms Common symptoms Rib pain side rib pain 2nd costal cartilage pain

Costal cartilage inflammation occurs in 20 to 30 women, male to female ratio is 1:9.

Most of the lesions are located at the 2nd - 5th costal cartilage of the chest. The 2nd and 3rd costal cartilage are the most common, and can also invade the sternum, the medial and the anterior and posterior rib cartilage. The affected costal cartilage is self-infected with dull or sharp chest pain, tenderness and swelling, deep inhalation, increased pain when coughing or active upper limbs, sometimes loosening to the shoulder or back, or even lifting the arm, but partial skin No change. The degree of pain varies from severity to severity and often affects the patient's work and study.

After the pain disappears, the enlarged costal cartilage can last for months or years. Sometimes, after exertion, the pain will also occur, the onset is urgent and slow, acute cases can suddenly occur, feeling chest tingling, jumping pain or soreness; insidious people are slow onset, unconsciously making the ribs and costal cartilage junction It is arched, swollen, dull and painful, sometimes radiating to the shoulders and back, crotch, neck and chest, sometimes chest tightness and suffocation, pain relief during rest or lying, deep breathing, coughing, supine, chest and fatigue, then the pain is aggravated.

Examination of costal cartilage

1, because the costal cartilage can not be developed in X-ray films, chest X-ray examination can not find lesion signs, but help to exclude intrathoracic lesions, chest wall tuberculosis, rib osteomyelitis.

2, B-ultrasound can show the swelling of the costal cartilage and structural reconstruction, easy to observe the swelling changes on both sides. No special findings were found on biopsy.

3, CT can show cartilage swelling and ossification.

4. MRI can show active inflammatory changes in bone, cartilage, synovium and bone marrow with high specificity and sensitivity.

5, laboratory tests, blood routine, blood phosphorus, blood calcium, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, alkaline phosphatase, etc. can be normal.

Diagnosis and identification of costal cartilage

1. The only symptom is local pain, which is sometimes released to the shoulders or back. The second and third costal cartilage are more common. Pain worsens when coughing and upper limb activity.

2, examination can be found in the affected area of the costal cartilage swelling, uplift and tenderness.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.